i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I'm not much of a welder. In time I'll get better. I think I have less than 5 hrs of experience spread out over several years. I'm happy the strut bar hasn't fallen apart yet. I had someone else weld my mounts up.

Swap wasn't hard, just time consuming and expensive. The skill set I started out with was a bit lacking as well. I could do a second swap fairly quickly now-a-days. The engine fits very well, as the extra cylinders occupy the space that was originally filled by a crossover pipe. The LS actually sits a bit further back than the VG did.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Clutch works again. I went to Summit in search of a 7/8" bore master cylinder, but settled for a 1" because the 7/8" are out of stock. I went too big. Its a bit too much for my liking, but it works. I'll probably drop down to a 7/8" when the tax check comes.

My transmission leak has gotten much worse since I last checked. I'll have to address that soon.

gobaltss

Very nice build, i might have so e questions for you later on!

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I've had multiple harness questions lately.

Harness is nothing special. I picked at the info on lt1swap.com and modified it a bit for what I had laying around. All you need is a generic 10 fuse panel and a couple relays. I reused the blue Nissan relays from a car I parted out.





Not pretty, but it should help someone out there in internet land.

juanevilgoat

this is some much needed information! i havent messed with the car in a couple of months. but i encountered another problem... engine is sitting too far forward. rack and pinion hit on the oil pan. gonna have to cut off an inch off the front of it... havent touched the wiring either but this schematic should really get things going. whats the update on your car?! got to the 11's yet?

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

The f-body pan is very tight to the rack on my setup. You can raise the engine or mod the pan. I opted to raise the engine.

No 11s yet, but I've been having fun surprising the Z33s and Mustangs around town.

No major updates. I fixed my busted shock mount and picked up some Z32 calipers to rebuild.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I've been doing some tuning for the last 2-3 weeks since fixing a large exhaust leak before my wideband. I pulled a bunch of fuel (~5% at WOT, holds a constant 12.9-13) and raised the limiter to 7000. It seems I've picked up a few MPH when running on the empty stretch of road I use for WOT runs (roughly 1/4 mile), and the tires slipped a bit going from 3-4 at ~105 (effing scary). I'll have to see about getting to a test and tune night before winter to get some real numbers. I'll be stoked if I can hit 12s on stock size all seasons.

Slated for winter:

Differential swap (to 3:90 NA unit with my LSD and new clutches)
Transmission upgrade by Liberty Gears (if I get moved into a larger garage)
Fix rear main leak

If I have time and money:

Coils/springs
Wheels
LQ4 or LS1 shortblock

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Made it out for a test/tune night. Best of 12.83 @ 113.0, ran 12.9x pretty consistently for the rest of the night.

Blackbob

iTrader: (1)

DId you get any video of it running ? I don't know if I missed a link in here somewhere.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

I removed my video links.

Blackbob

iTrader: (1)

Oh ok.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

A few updates on the car:

It ate some valve seals and the new diff needs pulled out again to remove a few clutches (shimmed up too tight, acts like a welded unit at low speed). New valve seals and some sealer on the rocker bolts fixed the awful oil consumption I was chasing. It burns almost zero oil now.

The transmission ate something as my last fluid change was full of metal. It shifts fine and has no new noises, so I'm going to let it ride until I get the house situation together and have room to tear it down. I suspect the input shaft bearing.

I've been working on my Conquest wheels for a few months off and on, they should be ready soon. Planning some 245/50/16 Nitto 555s or something since my shop is a Nitto distributor. A small drop my come with the wheels, I'm undecided.

Just got back from vacation. I drove the car over 2100 miles in 90+ degree humid weather, including a very aggressive mountain rally and a few passes at the local drag strip. The car averaged 22 MPG on the way down, 23 on the way back, and about 17 in town. Cruising RPM was 3200 at 75 MPH. The trip was for a Z car meet, many others with stock engined Z31s reported 22-25mpg.

Blackbob

iTrader: (1)

Why is your cruising RPM so high ? I don't remember if you said you had the stock diff or not. With a much lower final gear (or 6th gear) it should go way up.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Diff is a stock 3.9:1 ratio. RPM is so high because I have the "road race" TKO with a .82 5th gear. The normal TKO has a .64 5th. I plan to have the gearing changed when I get around to having the trans gone through.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Minor update.

Transmission is apart, input shaft bearing is trashed and the clutch is smoked. New bearing, carbon blockers, brass fork pads, etc are in the mail. 5th gear swap isn't happening due to cost.

I'm undecided on a clutch. Considering a Centerforce DF due to claims of lower pedal effort.

The lady got a new toy (and I got a new garage):



I think it will end up with a 4.8 or something eventually. She's happy with the NA VG30E for now but I suspect that will change once my car is back on the road.

blackened

iTrader: (10)

Awesome build man, I just started mine last month on my 86 (still have my first car). Got a 5.3, ecm, dirty dingo mounts, the centerforce df clutch, flywheel, ls1 oil pan and some odds and ends. Gotta get the ls1 intake, harness, drive shaft and t56

Bow Tie Power

I plan on doing an almost identical build but hopefully with a 5.3 LM4, T56 and some sort of live rear axle. are there any options for a cluster swap other than your basic aftermarket gauges? Like maybe an f body cluster or so? Just really don't care much for the cluster in my '88.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

No cluster swaps have been done to my knowledge. Just your basic auto-meter setups. If you look around hard enough I remember seeing a full live axle swap. I believe it was one of Russ Charlton's cars. It was an autocross car that got cut up afterward, something something 7.5" Ford.

If you aren't dead set on a live axle the S13 stuff can be swapped in. I think there are a few kits left in the group buy from ASCO. Its not a direct bolt in but should be easier than a live axle.

i r teh noobz

iTrader: (4)

Back on the road. I found more valve seals stuck to my oil plug. Woo.

I went with the Centerforce DF. It seems to be slightly easier to push than the RAM, but it grabs harder and has a shorter range of travel. Its a little difficult to get used to but I think I can deal with it. Still breaking it in, so things may change.

Bow Tie Power

Any manifolds that'll work for a 5.3 turbo in these?